James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will review the embargo on recruitment in hospitals and other health facilities to facilitate the training modules of pharmacy students who cannot qualify unless they receive one year's pre-registration training in a hospital or community facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25727/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government decision to introduce a moratorium across the public service allows for certain posts in the health sector to be filled, through exemptions in the employment control framework for front line posts. Provision has been made within the employment control framework of the HSE for the continuation of the normal arrangements in relation to the filling of clinical placements, rotations and training positions for health care professionals, including trainee pharmacists. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has been in discussions with the HSE concerning the number of placements available in the hospital sector and to ascertain whether there is an opportunity to increase the throughput of students in this area.

Pharmacy graduates have tended to undertake 12 months of pre-registration training in one establishment e.g. a community or hospital pharmacy. However, it is possible for students to undertake two 6 months placements, one of which must be in a community or hospital pharmacy and the second 6 months in another establishment relevant to the practise of pharmacy e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, etc.

The PSI has prepared a contingency plan in the event that there is a shortfall in the number of placements available this year. I welcome the initiative of the PSI in developing a contingency plan that will endeavour to ensure that all of the students are enabled to acquire a 'qualification appropriate for practice' and thereby to obtain registration as pharmacists and practice their profession. The PSI's plan will require the full support of the HSE, community pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as tutor pharmacists across all sectors of practice, either in the community, hospital, industry, academic and regulatory sectors, if it is to succeed. I would urge all concerned to support the PSI in this initiative.